VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. [From the Empire]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 895, 1 March 1854, Page 3

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. [From the Empire ]

We have received, by 'the Emma, files of Hobart Town papery tptfte 21st ultimo, from ■which we extract the following intelligence :—: — i A dresidful tire broke out in ILobart Town on the morning of the 21st, which did an immense amount of damage.. From private sources we learn that fourteen houses were burnt dovfcn, among them two jeweller'? sh&ps, that damage to the amount, of £100,000 was done, I and that only £14,00 Q of that amount was said to be insured. The following account of. the outbreak is taken from the Daily Advertiser of the 2ls>t:— This morning, about a quarter after two o'clock, a dreadful fire was discovered burning at the back of Mr. Edwards' shop in Liverpool street, by two persons 'connected with this office, viz., the superintendent of the printing machine and the man in charge of the steam engine, when coming to work off the paper. They immediately gave the alarm, and proceeded to Argyle-street, and called up Mr. Hedberg, the superintendent of the " Tasmanian Fire Engine," who was promptly on the ground with the engines. The engines from the police office, military barracks, and penitentiary weie also there. From Wexford House in Liver-pool-street to Mr. Clements, confectioner in Elizabeth-street, is now a mass of blackened smoking ruins. , A terrific explosion of gunpowder took place about 20 minutes to 3 o'clock, in Mr. Edwards', " Honey Dew House," Liverpool-street, which set fire to the adjoining houses. Several other explosions bccuTed during the fire. His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor was there, giving directions. A portion of the 99th regiment was also present, and did great ] service under the command of Colonel Despard, who was particularly- active in superin- ! tending his men. ' <: | Captain King, R.N., the Port-officer, was injured by a signboard-falling on his head. Mr. Strong, the butcher, .lost three horses and a gig, worth in th%'whofc<i£3oo. Mr. Edwards, -the tybascofijst, lost all. He is/not believed to be, insured.- Mr. Hollinsdale, the fruiterer's, loss is estimated at £4000. There was a great scarcity of water. The stores of Messrs. Hayand'lvey caught fire in the roof. The goods were saved by the prompt demolition of the house. The son of the owner of the steamer Culloden rushed into Edwards's house while it was on fire, and brought out 3 kegs of powder. Mrs. Clements, the confectioner's shop, was destroyed in order to stop the progress of the flames. The fire was smouldering all Sunday, the 22nd, and the ruins presented a scene of sad destruction. No lives were lost, but there was a rumour that one man was missing. The Governor exerted himself very much. Subscriptions to a large amount were being made for the sufferers in the recent bush fire at the Huon, and the destructive fire in Hobart Town, every available means of raising contributions being resorted to, and liberally met. An amended scheme of assisted or bounty immigration had been promulgated by Government, the former scheme having been denied the sanction of the Home Government. Under this plan the party desiring to introduce immigrants will pay their passage money to the

Van Diemen's Land Government, £3 when making the application, and the balance on arrival, but the emigrant must, to avail himself of the bounty ticket securing him a free passage, execute an agreement to remain in Van'Dieraen's Land for four years, or to repay his' passage money on fixed terms ; the immigrant labourer ultimately to lepayhis employer the cost of the passage money paid by the latter.

[From the Hobart Town Guardian, January 28.] Piratical Seizure op the " Lad? Franklin. — The Lady Franklin, on her last last trip to Norfolk Island, with seventeen prisoners and a military guard of sergeant and twelve privates of the 99th regiment, was piratically seized by the prisoners on the night of the 28th December last, and who remained in possession of her until the 9th instant. The first intimation of this ferocious outbreak, on the night in question, was a noise heard by Captain Willett whilst in his cabin. Upon the captain immediately repairing aloft to ascertain the noise, he was at once knocked down senseless by a fearful assault, and he knew nothing further until he subsequently had partially recovered his consciousness as the surgeon was dressing his wounds. We cannot at all learn what the military guard were about. It is as yet only known that one soldier is missing. As soon as the Lady Franklin neared these shores, the prisoners well provisioned tlie ship's boats, and after thoroughly disabling the vessel by cutting her sails in ribbons, took to the boats, to effect successfully their escape ; and so far they have quite succeeded. The Lady Franklin with great difficulty, then put into Spring Bay, and is expected in Hobart Town in a day or two. Some of the prisoners were men of most desperate character, who, having before belted by a piratical assault from Norfolk Island, were apprehended in Moreton Bay, and consequently had received another sentence for life. The guard and crew numbered about forty men, but the mutineers only seventeen ! The Guardian, February 1, announces the successful result of the search for gold in these words :—": — " With no common feelings, we trust, of grateful exultation, it is our gratifying privilege to announce that we yesterday morning inspected on Mr. Rowcroft's table, four distinct specimens of genuine Tasmanian gold. Thus, at last our own Ophir is approaching to positive fact and reality. This gold has just been dug up at Ben Lomond. It is pronounced to be of the very finest and purest quality. The specimen of shot gold is strikingly beautiful.